I find it difficult to answer where I'm from.

Outside India, I say I’m from India. More specifically? I’m linguistically Bengali, but a probasi Bangali- a non-resident Bengali whose family has lived outside Bengal state for generations.

My parents grew up in Jamshedpur, in present-day Jharkhand state. They left for work, spent 30 years in Rourkela, in the state of Odisha, and eventually returned to Jamshedpur. When I go home now, I go to Jamshedpur.

The longest I’ve lived there in one stretch is five months. And yet, I’ve convinced myself that’s where I’m from.

Each square below is a month. Each colour is a place.

Does any of it still answer the question?